# McLeod's Daughters season 3

The third season of the long-running Australian outback drama McLeod's Daughters began airing on 12 February 2003, and concluded on 29 October 2003, with a total of 30 episodes.

## Cast
### Regular

* Lisa Chappell as Claire McLeod
* Bridie Carter as Tess Silverman McLeod
* Jessica Napier as Becky Howard
* Rachael Carpani as Jodi Fountain
* Aaron Jeffery as Alex Ryan
* Myles Pollard as Nick Ryan
* Sonia Todd as Meg Fountain
* Simmone Jade Mackinnon as Stevie Hall

### Recurring

* John Jarratt as Terry Dodge
* Marshall Napier as Harry Ryan
* Doris Younane as Moira Doyle
* Inge Hornstra as Sandra Kinsella
* Ben Mortley as Alberto Borelli (episodes 1–6)
* Catherine Wilkin as Liz Ryan (episodes 1–10)
* Brett Tucker as Dave Brewer (episodes 1–25)
* Charlie Clausen as Jake Harrison (episodes 1–26)

### Guest

* Kathryn Hartman as Sally Clements
* Fletcher Humphrys as Brick Buchanon
* Richard Healy as Kevin Fountain
* Rodger Corser as Peter Johnson

#### Notes
## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 45 | 1 | "Fairy Tale, Ending" | Karl Zwicky | Chris McCourt | 12 February 2003 (2003-02-12) |
| Claire is home from her stint in hospital, but it's far from easy for the single mum-to-be. She has to face the truth about her baby's father, the lies she and Alex have concocted, the fact that Drover's has stayed afloat without her instruction... and on top of that, Alex is involved in a chopper crash. First appearance of Brett Tucker as Dave Brewer ||||||
| 46 | 2 | "Better the Devil You Know" | Karl Zwicky | Vicki Madden | 19 February 2003 (2003-02-19) |
| Alex and Claire's secret brings one family together and brings another to the brink. Tess and Liz clash over the lie – each with their own family's best interests at heart – while Jodi arrives home with a secret of her own. ||||||
| 47 | 3 | "The Road Home" | Bill Hughes | Giula Sandler | 26 February 2003 (2003-02-26) |
| After months of searching, Becky finally finds out what happened to Brick. She and Jodi discover the horrible truth after Becky is led to Brick in a dream. ||||||
| 48 | 4 | "An Affair to Forget" | Bill Hughes | Christina Milligan | 5 March 2003 (2003-03-05) |
| It seems Sally is taking advantage of Nick's absence in town by inviting a stranger over to Wilgul. Claire warns Tess against putting her nose in, but she just can't resist. ||||||
| 49 | 5 | "Put to the Test" | Richard Jasek | Alexa Wyatt & Robert Armin | 12 March 2003 (2003-03-12) |
| A careless prank on the groom threatens to put a stop to the impending nuptials of Jodi and Alberto. Meanwhile, Claire's expanding waistline is causing her all kinds of problems! ||||||
| 50 | 6 | "The Wedding" | Richard Jasek | Jeff Truman | 19 March 2003 (2003-03-19) |
| The Wedding Day is here and nearly everything that can go wrong does go wrong. But for one couple, it will be a day to remember- for all the right reasons! ||||||
| 51 | 7 | "Gone to the Dogs" | Cath Roden | Ysabelle Dean | 2 April 2003 (2003-04-02) |
| When Becky and Jake are forced to steal a horse, they find new depths to their relationship. Alex is dismayed when Claire starts buying up old nags from the sale yards. ||||||
| 52 | 8 | "The Ghost of Things to Come" | Cath Roden | Denise Morgan | 9 April 2003 (2003-04-09) |
| Claire discovers a hidden treasure which brings back fearful memories of her mother and unleashes the fear that she too will die in childbirth. ||||||
| 53 | 9 | "House of Cards" | Karl Zwicky | Chris McCourt | 23 April 2003 (2003-04-23) |
| A thirtieth wedding anniversary is no protection for Liz, when Harry, suspicious about Claire's baby, discovers an even bigger lie. ||||||
| 54 | 10 | "Three Little Words" | Karl Zwicky | Dave Warner | 30 April 2003 (2003-04-30) |
| Alex struggles with the truth about his family as Harry tries to win his son back the only way he knows how. Sally comes to the realisation that her relationship with Nick is going nowhere and she makes a heartbreaking decision. ||||||
| 55 | 11 | "Repeat Offenders" | Bill Hughes | Chris Hawkshaw | 7 May 2003 (2003-05-07) |
| An old friend of Tess' makes a visit to Drover's Run, planning to portray the lives of the woman in her next article. Becky and Meg clash over Jake's appointment as Killarney's new overseer. ||||||
| 56 | 12 | "Sins of the Father" | Bill Hughes | Shane Brennan & Giula Sandler | 14 May 2003 (2003-05-14) |
| Jake's true identity is revealed after his father and brother turn up wanting him to come home. Whilst weaning Phoenix from Blaze, Claire starts to realise that the lie about her baby isn't right and cannot last. ||||||
| 57 | 13 | "Jokers to the Right" | Cath Roden | Margaret Kelly | 21 May 2003 (2003-05-21) |
| Sandra Kinsella is back and her meddling brings Alex and Claire to the brink. Will they go their separate ways and end their lie? ||||||
| 58 | 14 | "Chain Reaction" | Cath Roden | Jeff Truman | 28 May 2003 (2003-05-28) |
| After Jodi tears up a chain letter, things start to go wrong at Drover's Run. As Dave shares his grief with Tess, Alex and Claire start to mend their wounds- despite Sandra's presence. ||||||
| 59 | 15 | "The Awful Truth" | Chris Martin-Jones | Chris McCourt | 4 June 2003 (2003-06-04) |
| Harry is back in town and up to his old tricks. Sandra Kinsella's influence continues to spread, but just which Ryan man is she manipulating this time? ||||||
| 60 | 16 | "Seeing the Light" | Chris Martin-Jones | Ysabelle Dean | 23 July 2003 (2003-07-23) |
| The appearance of mysterious Min Min lights over Drover's Run coincides with events that will alter the course of Claire & Tess' life forever. ||||||
| 61 | 17 | "A Slight Interruption" | Karl Zwicky | Elizabeth Packett | 30 July 2003 (2003-07-30) |
| An emu plague interrupts life at Drover's Run. As Claire chooses to battle alone with her baby, Meg gets caught in a crossfire. ||||||
| 62 | 18 | "Old Beginnings" | Karl Zwicky | Denise Morgan | 6 August 2003 (2003-08-06) |
| Peter returns to Drover's Run during the naming ceremony of his and Claire's baby, leading to a very important decision. Tess and Dave set out on an impulsive trip to the altar, which has an unexpected result. ||||||
| 63 | 19 | "Where There's Smoke" | Ali Ali | Chris Hawkshaw | 13 August 2003 (2003-08-13) |
| As Claire discovers more about her new neighbour, Jodi is determined to prove herself at the Fire Service training weekend – but it's going to be far more difficult than she anticipated. ||||||
| 64 | 20 | "Perfect Match" | Ali Ali | Jutta Goetze & Giula Sandler | 20 August 2003 (2003-08-20) |
| Jake's ambitions with Storm Cloud threaten his relationships with Becky and Claire. Speed Dating doesn't provide Claire with a match, but an internet ad reveals a rather interesting perfect match. ||||||
| 65 | 21 | "Let the Best Man Win" | Chris Martin-Jones | Chris Pearce & Alexa Wyatt | 27 August 2003 (2003-08-27) |
| Both Nick and Alex practically fall over each other trying to win the affections of a newcomer to the district – but they are both in for a shock as the competition heats up. ||||||
| 66 | 22 | "Majority Rules" | Chris Martin-Jones | Chris Hawkshaw | 3 September 2003 (2003-09-03) |
| Claire is coaxed into running for the Gungellan Farmers Council by Vince, but she won't win if Sandra Kinsella gets her way. ||||||
| 67 | 23 | "The Ties That Bind" | Karl Zwicky | Dave Warner | 10 September 2003 (2003-09-10) |
| When Claire and Alex hit big smoke, a long-lost father is found and a hidden passion is finally ignited. Will Alex finally acknowledge his true feelings? ||||||
| 68 | 24 | "One Step at a Time" | Karl Zwicky | Chris McCourt | 17 September 2003 (2003-09-17) |
| Claire and Alex are still in Melbourne with Charlotte and making plans to extend their stay. At Drover's, Tess discovers a lump on her breast and fearing her mother's fate, tells no one...not even Dave. ||||||
| 69 | 25 | "Time Frames" | Ali Ali | Katherine Thomson | 24 September 2003 (2003-09-24) |
| Tess and Dave reach a crossroads, as her cancer scare reveals that Dave is not completely over grieving his wife Leanne. ||||||
| 70 | 26 | "Body Language" | Ali Ali | Giula Sandler | 1 October 2003 (2003-10-01) |
| Drovers Run hosts the Regional Young Farmer of the Year Award and Becky is surprised to find herself competing with Jake. As the old spark between them returns, Becky is torn between the man she loves and Drover's Run. Final appearance of Jessica Napier as Becky Howard ||||||
| 71 | 27 | "To Catch a Thief" | Chris Martin-Jones | Christina Milligan | 8 October 2003 (2003-10-08) |
| Surgery is not the only worry for Tess in this episode, as her fear and worry about cancer is compounded by the unsettling arrival of Claire's old friend, Stevie Hall. First appearance of Simmone Jade Mackinnon as Stevie Hall ||||||
| 72 | 28 | "My Noon, My Midnight" | Chris Martin-Jones | Chris Hawkshaw | 15 October 2003 (2003-10-15) |
| Joy at Tess' biopsy result soon turns to tragedy, when Claire, Tess and Charlotte are involved in a serious car accident and one sister must make the ultimate sacrifice. ||||||
| 73 | 29 | "The Long Goodbye" | Karl Zwicky | Denise Morgan | 22 October 2003 (2003-10-22) |
| Tess is struggling with Claire's death and survivor guilt, but a surprise visitor may help when she needs it most. Final appearance of Lisa Chappell as Claire McLeod ||||||
| 74 | 30 | "Turbulence" | Karl Zwicky | Lily Taylor & Sarah Smith | 29 October 2003 (2003-10-29) |
| Tess is having a hard time getting along with Stevie. But when Charlotte's life is threatened, Tess and Stevie put aside their differences to save her. ||||||

## Production

The third season of McLeod's Daughters was announced in June 2002, and went into production in September 2002. It was originally commissioned for 26 episodes, before being extended to 30 episodes.
The season saw the departure of two of its leading characters – Jessica Napier and Lisa Chappell. Chappell was replaced with actress Simmone Jade Mackinnon in the role of Stevie Hall.

## Reception
### Ratings

On average, McLeod's Daughters received an audience of 1.50 million, and ranked at #6 for its third season. Episode 28, "My Noon, "My Midnight" was watched by 1,705,000 viewers.

### Awards and nominations

The third season of McLeod's Daughters received four wins and six nominations at the 2004 Logie Awards. It also received one nomination at the 2004 AFI Awards.
Wins
* Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (Lisa Chappell)
* Logie Award for Most Popular Actor (Aaron Jeffery)
* Logie Award for Most Popular Australian Program
* Logie Award for Most Popular Australian Drama Series
Nominations
* AFI Award for Best Television Drama Series
* Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (Lisa Chappell)
* Logie Award for Most Popular Actress (Bridie Carter)
* Logie Award for Most Popular Actor (Myles Pollard)
* Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent (Simmone Jade Mackinnon)
* Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress (Bridie Carter)
* Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series

## Home media

| Title | Release | Region | Format |
| McLeod's Daughters: The Complete Third Series | 13 April 2005 | Australia – R4 | DVD |
| McLeod's Daughters: The Complete Third Season | 14 August 2007 | USA – R1 | DVD |
| McLeod's Töchter: Die Komplette Dritte Staffel | 22 March 2013 | Germany – R2 | DVD |